New iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, Apple Watch Series 4

Apple announced a new line of iPhones today, building on last year's iPhone X. The new iPhone XS is the successor to the iPhone X, and a new iPhone XS Max is a larger-screen version. A new iPhone XR is a LCD-screen budget model. In addition, Apple announced a new Apple Watch Series 4 with a slight redesign and new features. Release dates for iOS 12 and macOS Mojave were set for later this month.

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Video Transcript: Hi, this is Gary with MacMost.com. Today Apple announced a whole new lineup of iPhones and also a new generation of Apple watches. Starting with the iPhone, Apple came out with three new models. They all are based on the iPhone X that came out last year. So the new models are called the iPhone XS, the iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR. Notice you say ten, not X, as a lot of people sometimes do.
So, the one that's the true successor of the iPhone X from last year is the XS. It basically has the same size and shape but has upgrades in the terms of the processor, the camera, the screen. All sorts of things in there. Just a little bit faster, a little bit better battery life, a little bit more efficient.
The iPhone XR is a low budget version of that phone. It costs less and it has a LCD screen. Not a LED screen. In addition it also has a single camera on the back instead of dual cameras. But it does include the same processor. All these new iPhones include the new A12 processor. Apple talked a lot about how this is significantly faster than the A11 and previous processors in iPhones.
Now the third iPhone is an even higher end model. It's called the XS Max. This is the first time that Apple has used the term Max instead of plus or something like that. The size of the Max is larger than the X. So it's actually about the same physical size as the 6 plus, 7 plus and 8 plus iPhones but the screen goes edge to edge. All of these phones have the little notch at the top and they have no Home button. So they work with the same kind of gestures and everything and feel basically kind of like the iPhone X. This XS Max just has a really large screen. Definitely the largest screen ever on an iPhone since it goes edge to edge and it's the same size as the old plus models.
Some other notes about what's new. There's definitely some improved camera capability but it isn't just because the cameras are a little bit newer and upgraded. It's also because of the processor. So Apple talked about how these use Smart HDR. So HDR is the technology that it took basically a photo at two different exposures and took the best parts of both. So you can have a bright background and a dark foreground and kind of combine them and get a good photo. Well it looks like Smart HDR takes many more than two and combines all those images to create a really great photograph.
In addition to that the cameras also feature this thing where you can change the depth of field after you take the picture. So you can do things like have a bokeh effect in the background but then after you take the picture you could adjust things and change the depth of field to get a very different looking photograph.
Also you'll be able to record video with stereo sound. The iPhone is going to use dual SIM technology. So it's going to use this eSIM. So you can basically have two phone numbers or two different mobile services associated with your phone. A lot of people that travel a lot really need this.
Now the new iPhone XS and the iPhone XS Max are going to be available for order on September 14 and shipping on the 21st. They're going to go from 64 GB to 512 GB of storage size. The low end model for the iPhone XS is going to be $999 in the US and $1099 for the XS Max. Now the cheaper model, the XR, is going to be $749 for the 64 GB model. That's not going to be available for order until October 19 and will ship on October 26.
So, of course, these new phone are going to ship with iOS 12. So iOS 12 will come out for the rest of us also on September 17. 
Apple also announced a new series for the Apple Watch. This is a redesigned piece of hardware. It has a larger screen. Inside there's a faster processor. There's all sorts of design tweaks. Like the microphone is on the other side and that kind of thing. There's also a lot of new features in this new Series 4. For instance, they talked a lot about fall detection. To be able to detect if you fell while wearing the watch and alert somebody to that. It's also going to have an electrocardiogram sensor. So you can run an ECG on yourself. It will also tell you if it detects anything  that could be a sign, you know, you should see a doctor. Maybe there's a heart issue that you have.
So apparently this is the first time that there's a consumer device that has a built in ECG. Now the Series 4 watches are going to start a $400 or $399. There's going to be a cellular version that you don't need a phone with you for it to work at $499. They are going to keep the Series 3 around as the lower price model at $279. So the new watch is going to come out on September 17. At least you can order it on September 17 and you'll be able to get one on September 21.
Now Apple didn't talk about any other hardware. Didn't talk about iPads. Didn't talk about any Macs. There will probably be an event later this month or early next where they announce new products. There's just too many rumors in the pipeline. Apple historically has had a different event for Mac hardware at least. But Tim Cook did tell us that Mac OS Mojave, the new operating system, will be released on September 24th.

Comments: 3 Responses to “New iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, Apple Watch Series 4”

Michael Fisk

6 years ago

I'll cut to most important and best product NEW product in the batch. The watch!
No doubt in my mind. Baby Boomers will deplete the 1st supply and give there earlier models to there loved ones which boom will increase more interest in the series 4 model down the road. Think I'm wrong. Have your own opinion or comment? Please let me know I'd love to hear from you! *Gary ~ permission granted to publish my email if you will. It's secure!

mike

Rod

Hi Gary - does the iPhone XR have the dual SIM technology? Or is that only available on the XS models.
Thanks!

Gary Rosenzweig

Rod: Apple's Tech Specs page for the XR clearly states "Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM)" but Apple's page about Dual SIM (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209044) only mentions the XS and Max. So you may want to wait until the XR arrives and then go see for yourself.

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New iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, Apple Watch Series 4

Comments: 3 Responses to “New iPhone XS, XS Max and XR, Apple Watch Series 4”

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